EngineNoO9
ArboristSite Guru
Anyone ever done this? Saw some stuff about modifying a chain to do it but saw some people indicate you could maybe do it with no mods to the chain. I would be a little worried about a fire though.
Cutting up round bales of hay with saw?
- Thread starter EngineNoO9
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EngineNoO9
ArboristSite Guru
EngineNoO9
ArboristSite Guru
I may not worry about cutting it as I've only done square bales before but it may be easy enough to use a pitch form to remove what I need every day. Getting a bale tomorrow so will see how it works.
It's usually only done in winter on round bales when the outer layer is frozen. They cut through to get to the dry stuff inside and discard the frozen part
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Cutting off the frozen- I can kind of understand....... but why else do you want to cut sections off of round bales with a chainsaw?
I am in the process of finishing off several hundred bales of winter cow fodder- usually two bales per mob per day.
If you are looking to peel a little off for individual animals per day, the bales can be unwound in layers (if not frozen) opposite to the way they are made, sections can then be cut off with a knife.
Setting fire to the bales would be my number one worry with hay, next would be clogging the clutch cover. Wonder how thinned molasses would work for bar oil on a hay cutter?
I am in the process of finishing off several hundred bales of winter cow fodder- usually two bales per mob per day.
If you are looking to peel a little off for individual animals per day, the bales can be unwound in layers (if not frozen) opposite to the way they are made, sections can then be cut off with a knife.
Setting fire to the bales would be my number one worry with hay, next would be clogging the clutch cover. Wonder how thinned molasses would work for bar oil on a hay cutter?
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According to this- once the rakers and most the top plates are ground off- you are good to go with no bar oil!
http://www.hayhorsefeeders.com/round-bale-feeders.html
Not sure I would be using the best or newest bar I owned! But if you alter an old worn chain- maybe you have an old worn bar laying about as well?
http://www.hayhorsefeeders.com/round-bale-feeders.html
Not sure I would be using the best or newest bar I owned! But if you alter an old worn chain- maybe you have an old worn bar laying about as well?
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Canola oil or any kind of vegetable oil can attract ants sometimes.
Sent while firmly grasping my redline lubed RAM [emoji231]
find a cheap battery saw or if power is close a cheap electric one off craigslist.
EngineNoO9
ArboristSite Guru
Cutting off the frozen- I can kind of understand....... but why else do you want to cut sections off of round bales with a chainsaw?
I am in the process of finishing off several hundred bales of winter cow fodder- usually two bales per mob per day.
If you are looking to peel a little off for individual animals per day, the bales can be unwound in layers (if not frozen) opposite to the way they are made, sections can then be cut off with a knife.
Setting fire to the bales would be my number one worry with hay, next would be clogging the clutch cover. Wonder how thinned molasses would work for bar oil on a hay cutter?
My thought is with just having goats to cut off a large section to take to their barn as I’m not going to give them the whole thing at once. But a pitch fork probably will be easier.
Set the bale on edge and peel off the layers with a fork in the opposite direction it was rolled.
Keep the bottom clean. Important.
You dont need to cut anything but the twine.
Keep the bottom clean. Important.
You dont need to cut anything but the twine.
EngineNoO9
ArboristSite Guru
I'm hopefully setting it on a pallet... Will see how it goes.
And only reason I asked about a saw is when I looked up cutting round bales that's the first thing that popped up. Not going to let them have free range on it either.
And only reason I asked about a saw is when I looked up cutting round bales that's the first thing that popped up. Not going to let them have free range on it either.
Ive fed lots over the years.
You need to make sure you keep the bottom peeled off to keep the bale cylindrical. If you turn it into a cone the bottom edge becomes a pita.
Why the pallet?
You need to make sure you keep the bottom peeled off to keep the bale cylindrical. If you turn it into a cone the bottom edge becomes a pita.
Why the pallet?
EngineNoO9
ArboristSite Guru
Keep it up off of the ground as that area gets lots of rain drainage and I want to avoid rot. I've only done square bales in the past and typically put 10 in their barn and peel off flakes as necessary. The rest I've put up in my shed.
The bottom may not slide out nicely on the slats of a pallet. Maybe put a scrap of plywood on top of the pallet..?
EngineNoO9
ArboristSite Guru
Yeah I could try that.
